macOS Monterey (version 12) is the 18th major release of macOS, Apple's desktop operating system for Macintosh computers. The successor to macOS Big Sur, it was announced at WWDC 2021 on June 7, 2021, and will be released on October 25, 2021. A beta version of macOS Monterey was released to developers enrolled in the Apple Developer program on June 7, 2021. A public beta version was released at the beginning of July 2021.
The operating system is named after Monterey Bay, following Apple's tradition of naming macOS releases after locations in California that started with OS X (now macOS) 10.9 Mavericks replacing the former tradition of naming each macOS release after big cats.
Changes, including those showcased during the WWDC 2021 keynote, include:
- Introduction of Shortcuts for the Mac
- Introduction of TestFlight for the Mac
- Universal Control, which allows a single keyboard and mouse to interact across multiple Macs and iPads at once (Available on Mac computers with the Apple M1 chip and Mac computers with an Intel processor on MacBook Pro (2016 and later), MacBook (2016 and later), MacBook Air (2018 and later), iMac (2017 and later), iMac (5K Retina 27-inch, Late 2015), iMac Pro, Mac mini (2018 and later), and Mac Pro (2019). iPad requirements: iPad Pro, iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (6th generation and later), and iPad mini (5th generation and later).)
- Redesigned Safari browser
- Support for playing AirPlay content received from iOS and iPadOS devices, as well as from other Macs (Available on MacBook Pro (2018 and later), MacBook Air (2018 and later), iMac (2019 and later), iMac Pro (2017), Mac mini (2020 and later), Mac Pro (2019), iPhone 6s and later, iPad Pro (2nd generation and later), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad (6th generation and later), and iPad mini (5th generation and later). Older iPhone, iPad, and Mac models may share content at a lower resolution to supported Mac models when “Allow AirPlay for” is set to “Everyone” or “Anyone on the same network” in Sharing preferences.)
- Enhancements to FaceTime, including the ability to share screen, and the SharePlay feature which provides a way to experience content simultaneously and in sync (e.g. music or TV shows)
- Ability to factory reset the device from the System Preferences app
- Live Text to copy, paste, translate and lookup text in Photos, Screenshot, Quick Look, and Safari (work across all Macs that support macOS Monterey since beta 4)
- Focus to set different modes to filter notifications across iPhone, iPad and the Mac range.
- Introduces Low Power Mode for Mac (Supported on MacBook (Early 2016 and later) and MacBook Pro (Early 2016 and later).)
- Removal of previously bundled PHP interpreter
- The parameters of the Time Machine backup functionality have been tweaked to exclude a greater extent of system files.
- Planned introduction of "Expanded Protections for Children" which will apply cryptography to detect and help limit the spread of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) online by scanning the user's iCloud photos and Messages attachments.
